Open Houses

Holiday Almanac

Dec. 1 Browse through unique and functional crafts for the home and garden by area artists during 43rd Street Gallery's Holiday Open House, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Dec. 3. 1412 W. 43rd St. (804) 233-1759. Dec. 8 Stratford Hall Plantation holds its annual Christmas Candlelight Tour, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. today and Saturday. The Great House reopens at 4:30 p.m. for candlelight tours. Costumed interpreters are present in each of the rooms, and 18th century music is played in the Great Hall. A buffet dinner by candlelight in the Plantation Store is available by registration only. Call (804) 493-8038 weekdays, or (804) 493-8371 weekends for tickets and information. Dec. 9 The Chesterfield County Historical Society hosts its annual Christmas Open House, with reenactors and old St. Nick, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Magnolia Grange and Castlewood in Chesterfield. Local garden clubs have designed the live decorations. Free. Photos with Santa, $5. (804) 777-9663. Dec. 10Agecroft Hall's annual Christmas Open House takes place, showing Richmonders how Christmas was done centuries ago. Features a walk-through tour of an English manor decorated in the style of the 16th and 17th centuries, 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. More or Less Morris Dancers perform dances of the day in the courtyard, and refreshments are served on the lawn. New activities this year are scenes from Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," and children's arts-and-craft making. Free. 4305 Sulgrave Road. (804) 353-4241. Visit The Museum of the Confederacy, decorated as the Davis family might have during Christmas, for a special holiday season celebration as it opens its doors to the public, noon-5:00 p.m. Admission to the Museum will be free, and, for the first time since it was restored in 1988, free guided tours of the famous White House of the Confederacy will be available. Also features a Victorian Santa for children, caroling and craft making. 1201 E. Clay St. Next to the Medical College of Virginia. (804) 649-1861. The Holiday Family Open House the Virginia Museum includes a visit with Santa, holiday music, ornament-making and the lighting of the museum's holiday tree. 6-8 p.m. Free. (804) 367-8148. Dec. 14Agecroft Hall opens for Scent of the Past, a special program of tours, interpreters and gift making. Limited to 15 participants. 4 p.m. $6 adults; $4 children. 4305 Sulgrave Road. Register at (804) 353-4241. Did we miss your event? Send us ane-mail.